Clamp for cables and the like



April 29, 1947- A. M. BRUCE CLAMP FOR CABLES AND TI' IE LIKE Filed Jan.9, 1945 game/whom j ArfhurM Bru Ce Patented Apr. 29, 1947 UNITED STATESPATENT oFElcE CLAMP FOR CABLES AND THE LIKE Arthur M. Bruce, Long Beach,Calif.

Application January 9, 1945, Serial No. 572,071

6 Claims. 1

a The invention relates generally to clamping devices adaptable forclamping groups of cables, pipes or similar generally cylindricalarticles, and while subject to more general utility, is especiallyintended for clamping runs of cable in ship construction.

It is well known that in present day ship construction many electricconductor cables are included in the electrical installations, and ininterest of symmetry and order and efficiency, as well as safety inlight of the rolling and pitching of ships at seat, it is important thatthe' cables be securely clamped in groups, and it is'fdesirable thatclamping means be provided which will enable the making of initial andreplacement installations with facility and security. It is the purposeof the present invention to provide a novel cable clamping means of thecharacter stated.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel cable clamping means ofthe character stated including a base bar and means for clamping cablesof selected sizes and groupings thereon without the necessity ofbending, cutting and fitting parts to fit the particular cable sizes andgroupings and without use of bolts, wires or the like.

In its more specific nature the invention resides in providing aclamping means of the character stated wherein are provided a base baracross which the cables are laid in selected sizes and groups, end capsengaging in clamping relation over the endmost cables and secured to thebar and including upstanding wall portions terminating in angle benthead pieces, U-shaped clamp pieces shaped to engage in clamping contactover individual intermediate cables and having' their upright wallportions terminating in angle-bent head pieces, the head pieces ofadjacent'clamp pieces and end caps being associated in V-shapedcooperating pairs, and there being included channel clamp membersslidable over said headpiece pairs to secure the end caps and clamppieces in assembly and in position for clamping the cables against thebar.

Another object of the invention is to provide clamping means of thecharacter stated inwhich there are included U-shaped gap piecesplaceable between cables or cable groups to form, therebetween andincluding angle bent head pieces for cooperating with the other headpieces and with clamp pieces in effecting the desired unit assembly.

With the above and other objects in view-that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the inven- 2 tion will be more fully understoodby folioing the detailed description, and appended claims and the several viewsillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the Figure5 is a perspective view illustrating one of the clamping members.

In the practical development of the invention the improved clampingmeans includes a base bar 5 across which the cables 6 of selected sizesare laid in a single group or in selective grouping as illustrated inFigure 1. An end cap member generally designated 1 is riveted orotherwisesecured as at 8 on the bar 5 at each end of the single orselective grouping of cables, and each said end cap includes a baseportion 9 lying against the base bar, a, clamp body portion ill shapedto snugly engage over the adjacent endmost cable which abuts the uprightmain body from which curved body portion l0 extends, and

an upstanding wall portion ll terminating in an angle bent head piecel2.

A plurality of selective V-sh'aped cable caps l3 are provided and eachincludes a base portion [4 dimensioned and shaped to snugly engage 1over the particular form and size of cable tob'e clamped thereby, andtwo parallel upright'wall portions I 5 terminating in angle bent headpieces": I6. These upright wall portions I5 are adapted to li againstthe similar wall portion ll of one" of the end cap members and anadjacent cable cap upright wall or another end cap upright wall, againstthe upright walls i5 of two similar cable caps [3, according to thenature of the particular installation, or against the upright wall of anend cap member and the upright wall of a spacer member ll when one isemployed to effect a spacing of cable groups as illustrated in Figure 1.

The spacer members generally designated I! each include a base portionl8 which may or may not be secured to the base bar 5 between the groupsof cables to be separated thereby, and upright wall portions l9terminating in angle bent head pieces 20.

When the end caps 1 and cable caps i3, or the end caps I, cable caps l3and one or more spacer members I! are assembled in cooperativerelation s3 I in the manner hereinbefore described, the angle bent head pieces ofthe abutting wall portions II and I5 or II, l5 and I9 will be reverselydirected so as to form V-pairs of head pieces each pair cooperating toreceive channel-like clamp pieces 2| one of which is slipped over eachsaid pair of head pieces to embrace and engage them with retainingfriction effective to maintain the assembly of the clampingmeansinthemanner illustrated.

It will be apparent-from the foregoing th assembly of parts hereindisclosed provides simple and eficient clamping means which can beselectively assembled, without the necessity of using special tools, toclamp various arrangements or groupings of cables of like or differingsizes. a

It is to be understood that the details of con-"'' struction of thecooperating parts can be variously changed without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended i claims.

'LIiclaim: v 21. Clamping means of comprising, a base 'ba'r acrosswhichcables or other articles of generally cylindrical shapejarelaid in agroup, end caps attached to .the bar one in position 'foribeing disposed:at each sideof a group of cables and including a wall portion .forabutting a cable side, a body portion adapted to overlie and clampagainst said article and an upstanding wall portion terminating in anangle bent head piece, a U-shaped cap piece having a body portionadapted to'engage in clampingcontact over a cable and havingupstandingwall portions for lying against end cap 'wall portions andterminating in angle bent head 'piecesbent :reversely with respect tothe end cap head pieces so that the-end cap and caprpieceheadpieces willbe associated in cooperating :V.-shaped pairs,.

and a channel clamp piece receivable over :each cooperatingpair of headpieces for holdingrthe cap piece in .cable clamping position between theend caps, Y

'2. Clamping means :ofthe character described comprisingua base baracross which cables or other :articles of generally cylindrical shapeare .the character-described laid in a group, end caps attached tothebarone in position for being disposed at each side of a group ofcables and including a wall portion, for

abutting a cable side, a body portion adapted to overlie and clampagainst said article and an upstanding wall portion terminating in anangle bent head piece, a U-shaped spacer element having a baseengageable with the base bar and up.- standing wall portions forengaging between and against sides of two cables and terminating inangle bent head pieces, a U-shaped .cap piece having a bodyportion-adapted to engage in clamping contact over each cable and havingupstanding wall portions for lying against end cap positiodj"3.Clar'nping means as defined claim 1 in which there are provided aplurality of cap pieces ofselective sizes for clamping cables ofdifferent sizes, the upstanding wall portions of all said cap piecesbeing of such length as to dispose the angle" bent head pieces thereofat a common level with thoseofthe upstanding wall portions of the endcaps.

4;Clai'nping means as defined in claim 2 in which there are provided aplurality of cap pieces between each end cap and a spacer element wallportion, said'cap pieces being of selective sizes for i clam-ping cablesof, difi'erent sizes and the upstanding wall portions of all said cappieces being of such length as to dispose the anglebent head piecesthereof at a common level with those of {the upstanding wall portions ofthe end caps.

5.' Clamping means as defined in claim lin.

which there are provided a plurality ofgcap pieces of selective sizesfor clamping cables of different sizes,=the body portion of each saidcap piece being shaped to conform to-and fit snugly against the cableclamped thereby and the upstanding wall portions of all said cap piecesbeing of such length as to dispose the angle bent head pieces thereof ata common level with those of the lip-- standing wall portions of the endcaps.

-6. Clamping means as defined in, claim 2 in which there are provided aplurality of cap pieces between each end cap and a spacer element wallportion, said cap pieces being of selective sizes for-clamping cables ofdifferent sizes, and the.

body portion of each said cap piece being shaped to conform to and fitsnugly against the cable clamped thereby and the upstanding wallportions of .all said cap pieces being. of such length as to dispose theangle bent head pieces thereof at a common ,level with those of theupstanding wall portions of the end caps.

' 'AR'IHUR M. BRUCE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,348,096 Schack May 2, 1944Carpenter July 11, 1944

